Offering everyday tips to the everyday homeowner. Beyond The Stage Homes is a division of Style Corporation.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Back To School for Your Home - BTSH Around The House Tip of the Week

“Back to School” can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. Regardless of whether you are gearing up to return to classes yourself, or have kids that are, or neither, it’s hard not to be affected by all the Back to School media attention, and the whole atmosphere surrounding it all. Back to School is simply a time of year when things seem to return to normal, or at least a state somewhat resembling normal anyway. Plant shutdowns are done with, vacations are over, you begin closing the cottage, and the pool, and preparing for the fall ahead (don’t worry—that’s next week’s article). This week I was inspired by the Back to School blitz, and wanted to give you some ideas for returning yourself, and your home, to “school”. Here are some basic supplies that you’ll need:

Pens/Pencils—If you’re finding that all the pens you thought you had around the house have mysteriously disappeared, now is a great time to purchase some new ones. Get rid of all the mis-matched pens, likely only half of which actually have ink, and stock up on some pens in a variety of fun colours, or perhaps one colour specifically to compliment your décor.

Books—Just because you’re not taking any actual classes doesn’t mean that you can’t learn a thing or two. Consider purchasing a book about a topic that you’re interested in learning more about. Whether it’s a home renovation project, or a new language, or simply a hobby or interest that you want to learn more about, such as a historical event, or astronomy, or maybe classic cars. Learning can be fun when you have chosen the material, and when you’re done, the book can be displayed on your bookcase as art.

Backpack—Re-usable bags are eco-chic! Treat yourself to a new bag for picking up all your new supplies. You can find great, fashionable bags at stores such as Winners, The Bay, Lulu Lemon, and almost anywhere you find fashion. For the glam bag pictured to the right, check out Envirosax (www.envirosax.com). In addition to providing uniquely stylish re-usable bags, Envirosax also donates a percentage of its sales to charities and non-profit organizations dedicated to the preservation of the environment.

Day Planner/Calendar—Don’t wait until the last minute to start planning for 2010. Pick yourself up a new calendar and/or day-planner, and start planning your winter escape, spring break, or weekend get-aways. Getting a jump-start on your calendar allows you to write down new year appointment reminders as they come up, such as the dentist, car tune-ups, furnace cleanings, etc. To the left is the At-A-Glance day-planner that I use. I love to support Breast Cancer Awareness, and this planner comes in a pretty soft pink, and gives me plenty of space for notes to plan my days.

New Fashions—Probably one of the most exciting parts of Back to School is all the new clothes! Why not treat your home to some new fashions too? End of season sales will help you stock up for next Spring/Summer, whether it’s new outdoor furniture or lighting, or for the indoors, perhaps some cozy blankets, or new window coverings, table settings, a new area rug, or maybe simply some small accessories such as candles, artwork, or small vases. Whatever you need for your home, inside or out, now is a great time to take advantage of end-of-season savings.